CHEESE-FILLED ITALIAN MEAT LOAVES

3/4 pound extra-lean ground beef
3/4 pound Italian sausage
1/2 cup Italian-style bread crumbs
1/2 cup pizza sauce*
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 large egg
3 ounces mozzarella cheese, cut into 18 (1/2-inch) cubes
Pizza sauce, heated

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine beef, sausage, bread crumbs, pizza sauce, pepper and egg in medium bowl. Form beef mixture into 6 individual, oval-shaped loaves.

Insert 3 cubes cheese into center of each loaf, reshaping loaves if necessary. Place loaves into ungreased 13x9-inch baking pan.

Bake for 30 to 45 minutes or until loaves are no longer pink in center (some cheese may come out during baking).

To serve, spoon pizza sauce over meat loaves.

*Substitute your favorite spaghetti sauce.

Makes 6 servings
Source: Land O Lakes